HALIFAX, BARBARA JOAN
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Wife, Mother, Nana and Great Nana, Barbara JOAN Halifax, 80, of Fruitvale, BC, who passed away with her family by her side in the early hours of Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at Columbia View Lodge in Trail, BC after a courageous battle with cancer.
Joan, the eldest child of Elvin and Agnes (Pasty) Kraft, was born on November 25, 1932 in Nelson, BC. When she was 10 the family moved to Salmo, BC. Mom took great pride in the fact that at the age of 11 she took care of her siblings when her mother was diagnosed with cancer and had to go to Vancouver for radiation treatment. Mom was also proud of being named the 1948 July 1st Queen of Salmo. Mom left school in grade 10 and worked at Kerwin’s General Store in Salmo before moving to Vancouver to attend hairdressing school. She returned to Salmo before finishing the course to be with the love of her life, Rowat (Mac) Halifax, whom she met in 1947. They married September 13, 1952 in Fruitvale and moved into the family home built by Mac and his father. In 1979, Mom went to work at the Pastry Shop in Trail and later at Boots Drug Store in the Waneta Plaza. She was a remarkable woman. Everyone who knew her loved her. She was honest, trustworthy, respectful, loving, caring and a true friend. The front door was always open to friends and family. She believed in the Serenity Prayer and lived by the Golden Rule. Her greatest source of pride and joy was her family - she loved us deeply. Together, she and dad were blessed with four wonderful children, nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren (soon to be ten in March). She cherished being a mother and a nana. She was a loving, gentle, patient and kind mother and nana; we all loved her very much. Even her grandchildren’s friends were proud to call her “Nana”. She was so very proud of her children and grandchildren and bragged about them to everyone she spoke with! She enjoyed many a camping trip with the kids and grandkids at Davis Creek in Lardeau, BC on Kootenay Lake. In later years, she enjoyed sitting on the deck or lawn swing with Mac to enjoy their flowers, fish pond, and watch the hummingbirds, chickadees and other birds that flocked to the feeders. She adored hummingbirds and passed that love of the “hummers” on to us all.
Joan was preceded in death by her parents Elvin and Patsy Kraft, brothers Lawrence and Blaine Kraft, and grandson Ryan Halifax.
Joan is survived by her husband of 60 years Mac Halifax; her children: Gary (Lee-Anne), Randy (Sherry), Gail (Bob) Mayne, & Karen Halifax (Scott Simpson); grandchildren: Sean (Kristy) and their children Brooke, Riley & Britney; Aaron (Deana) and their children Austin & Mackenzie; Jason (Laura), Michael (Karin) Mayne and their child Gwendolyn; Shane (Tiffany) and their children Keagan, Mason, & Scarlett; Kara Mayne (Justin Weiers), and Tyler and Joanna Simpson; Step Grandchildren: Kelly (Brad) Stykel and their children Cole, Isabella & Finn and Marlise (Mark) Livolsi and their children Mattea & Delano; sisters Elvina Walsh and Bonnie (Lorne) Ekstrom, as well as numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation at http://www.bcchf.ca/donate/ or the BC Cancer Foundation at http://bccancerfoundation.com/ways-donate/gift-memory
As per Mom’s wishes, there will be no funeral service. Cremation has taken place. Al Grywacheski of Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Services™ has been entrusted with arrangements. You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence at the family’s online register at www.myalternatives.ca
The family wishes to thank Dr. Phillips for the gentle care given to mom over the years and the staff at Columbia View Lodge for mom’s care these past two months.
I AM WITH YOU STILL
I give you this one thought to keep
I am with you still – do not weep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not think of me as gone –
I am with you still – in each new dawn.
GOD SAW YOU GETTING TIRED
God saw you getting tired. When a cure was not to be,
He closed his arms around you and whispered “Come to Me”.
In tears we saw you sinking. We watched you fade away.
Our hearts were almost broken, you fought so hard to stay.
But when we saw you sleeping so peacefully from pain,
We could not wish you back to suffer so again.
So keep your arms around her Lord and give her special care,
Make up for all she suffered and all that seemed unfair.
Rest in Peace Mom/Nana – we love and miss you but you will live on in all of us.